Chapter 9.60
INDOOR WATER USE EFFICIENCY REGULATIONS
Sections:
9.60.040 Minimum indoor fixture requirements.
9.60.050 Compliance with this chapter.
9.60.060 Components of the indoor water use efficiency checklist.
9.60.070 Penalties and enforcement.
9.60.010 Title – Purpose.
This chapter shall be known as the city of Millbrae indoor water use efficiency ordinance. The purpose of the indoor water use efficiency regulations is to enhance public health and welfare by encouraging water conservation measures in the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings. In light of the limited water supply available to the city through the Hetch Hetchy System administered by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the water use efficiency practices required in this chapter are intended to achieve the following goals:
A. To encourage the conservation of natural resources;
B. To increase water efficiency and lower water costs;
C. To reduce the operating and maintenance costs for buildings;
D. To promote a healthier indoor environment;
E. To give clearer guidance to ensure compliance with state and federal law. (Ord. 732, § 1).
9.60.020 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions pertain.
“Certified professional” means a licensed contractor, licensed architect, or licensed professional engineer by the state of California.
“Energy Star qualified” means that a given fixture meets the United States Environmental Protection Agency standard for an energy efficient product.
“Gal/cycle” means gallons per cycle.
“Gal/100 lbs ice” means gallons per one hundred pounds of ice.
“GPF” means gallons per flush.
“GPM” means gallons per minute.
“Grams” means the amount of solids that can be moved through a toilet of 1.28 or less gallons per flush.
“Local agency” means a city or county, including a charter city or charter county, or water district, that is responsible for adopting and implementing the ordinance codified in this chapter. The local agency is also responsible for the enforcement of this chapter, including, but not limited to, in the case of a city or county, approval of a permit and plan check or design review of a project; and in the case of a district, approval of a new or expanded water service.
“Local water purveyor” means any entity, including a public agency, city, county, or private water company that provides retail water service.
“LSI” means Langlier Saturation Index providing an indication of the degree of saturation of water with respect to calcium carbonate related to cooling tower efficiency.
“Permit” means the document issued by local agencies in connection with new construction, remodels or renovations and which authorizes the lawful initiation of construction, improvements, or repairs to a building or structure.
“Project applicant” means the individual or entity submitting an indoor water use efficiency checklist as required in MMC 9.60.060, and requesting a permit, plan check, design review, or new or expanded water service application from the local agency. A project applicant may be the property owner or his or her designee.
“RMF” means residential multifamily.
“Sq. ft.” means square feet.
“Water factor” means the number of gallons per cycle per cubic foot that a clothes washer uses.
“Working days” means Monday through Friday, excluding city holidays. (Ord. 732, § 1).
9.60.030 Applicability.
A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the following projects:
1. Any new construction.
2. All additions with new or expanded water use.
3. Remodels involving one or more of the following:
a. Kitchen.
b. Bathroom(s).
c. Remodel of a building which exceeds fifty thousand dollars in construction valuation.
d. Remodeling involving fifty percent or more of the building interior.
e. Expanded water service (except for fire sprinkler systems).
B. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to:
1. Existing buildings not seeking a building permit.
2. Registered local, state or federal historic sites.
3. Remodels where, at the discretion of the building official, the unique configuration of the building, its drainage system or portions of the public sewer, or both, are incompatible with efficiency standards listed in the indoor water use efficiency table and require a greater quantity of water to flush the system in a manner that is consistent with public health. In order to make this decision, documentation must be provided by the project applicant wishing to use this exception. The applicant must show that the system will not function properly with the reduced water flow and justify the requested increase in the amount of water needed to make the system function while still meeting the intent of the efficiency standards. (Ord. 732, § 1).
9.60.040 Minimum indoor fixture requirements.
All new construction and applicable additions and remodels will have, at the minimum, fixtures that comply with the efficiency standards listed below:
|
Fixture |
Residential – One- or Two-Family |
Multifamily, Commercial or Nonresidential |
|---|---|---|
|
Toilets |
≤ 1.28 gpf, and ≥ 500 grams |
≤ 1.28 gpf, and ≥ 500 grams |
|
Urinals |
≤ 0.5 gpf |
≤ 0.5 gpf |
|
Shower heads |
≤ 1.5 gpm |
≤ 1.5 gpm |
|
Bathroom faucets |
≤ 0.5 gpm |
≤ 0.5 gpm |
|
Kitchen faucets |
≤ 1.5 gpm |
≤ 1.5 gpm |
|
Clothes washers |
≤ 6.0 water factor |
≤ 6.0 water factor |
|
Dish washers |
≤ 6.5 gal/cycle or Energy Star qualified |
Energy Star qualified |
|
Cooling towers |
N/A |
≥ 5 – 10 cycles or ≥ 2.5 LSI |
|
Food steamers |
N/A |
Boilerless, or self contained |
|
Ice machines |
N/A |
≤ 25 gal/100 lbs ice, or air cooled |
|
Pre-rinse spray valves |
N/A |
≤ 1.15 gpm |
|
Automatic vehicle wash facilities |
N/A |
≥ 50% or more of water used must be recycled on site |
|
Commercial refrigeration |
N/A |
Closed loop, or air cooled |
|
Water meters |
Separate meter for outdoor landscaping > 5,000 sq. ft. |
Sub-meters, and separate meter for outdoor landscaping > 5,000 sq. ft. |
The city shall incorporate the foregoing table into an indoor water use efficiency checklist. (Ord. 732, § 1).
9.60.050 Compliance with this chapter.
A. The city of Millbrae shall:
1. Provide the project applicant with the ordinance codified in this chapter and the indoor water use efficiency checklist requirements when it provides applicant with the procedures for permits, plan checks, design reviews or new or expanded water service applications.
2. Review the indoor water use efficiency checklist submitted by the project applicant.
3. Approve or deny the project applicant’s indoor water use efficiency checklist submittal.
4. Only upon approval of the indoor water use efficiency checklist, issue a permit or approve the plan check, design review or new expanded water service application for the project applicant.
5. In its discretion, inspect the installation of the water efficient fixtures and appliances to verify that they have been installed and are performing at the required use levels.
B. The project applicant shall:
1. Meet the minimum water use efficiency standards for indoor fixtures and appliances provided for in the indoor water use efficiency table and checklist.
2. Prior to construction, submit all portions of the indoor water use efficiency checklist to the city for verification. (Ord. 732, § 1).
9.60.060 Components of the indoor water use efficiency checklist.
The indoor water use efficiency checklist shall require at a minimum:
A. Project information.
B. Quantity and unit water use factors of all indoor fixtures and appliances relative to the standards listed in the indoor water use efficiency checklist.
C. Contain the following statements to be completed by the project applicant: “I certify that the subject project meets the specified requirements of the Indoor Water Use Efficiency Ordinance.”
D. Bear the signature of the project applicant, or that of a certified professional. (Ord. 732, § 1).
9.60.070 Penalties and enforcement.
A. Violation and Notice of Correction. It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation subject to the requirements of this chapter to fail to comply with the water use efficiency requirements or to alter or replace the fixtures and appliances required by this chapter with noncompliant fixtures or appliances after the completion of the construction or remodel. Whenever the city determines that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the city may serve a notice of correction on the owner(s) of the property on which the violation is situated. The owner(s) of record shall have a maximum of ninety days to take corrective action. Failure to take corrective action can lead to infraction or misdemeanor actions being taken by the city.
B. In addition to any other remedy provided in the Millbrae Municipal Code, any provision of this chapter may be enforced by an administrative order issued pursuant to MMC 1.05.030. The hearing officer shall be as outlined in MMC 1.05.030. (Ord. 732, § 1).
9.60.080 Public education.
The city of Millbrae shall provide information to all applicants regarding the installation of water efficient fixtures and appliances and on rebates for plumbing fixtures and appliances. (Ord. 732, § 1).
9.60.090 Severability.
If any section, subsection, provision or part of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remainder of this chapter, and the application of such provision to other person or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect and, to that end, the provisions of this chapter are severable. (Ord. 732, § 1).